After taking the first game of this NBA Finals Thursday night, the Denver Nuggets shoot for the 2-0 lead when the teams meet again Sunday night, The Nuggets led Game 1 almost all the way through, comfortably for the most part, and covered the spread as nine-point favorites.
Can they do it again Sunday night? Or does Miami have a bounce-back performance in store?
Here’s our homework for this Game 2, with our free NBA Finals betting pick.
NBA Championship Series Betting Odds
The NBA Finals betting lines opened Denver at -9 for Game 2, with an over/under of right around 217. Early betting action then dipped the Nuggets to -8.5 and that total to 216. .
Denver is also now lined at -900 to win this NBA Championship Series, with Miami now getting +550 as the dog. A Nuggets sweep is proffered at +280.
NBA Finals Game 2 Betting Preview
Denver grabbed the opener of these NBA Finals Thursday night, 104-93. The Nuggets took the lead for good at 8-7, went up by double-digits early in the second quarter, and led 59-42 at the half. Denver pushed its advantage to 24 points late in the third, allowed Miami to get within nine with just under three minutes left but tacked on a couple of buckets and held on for the cover.
The Nuggets shot 51 percent from the field Thursday, held the Heat to just 41 percent shooting, and committed just eight fouls all night, leading to just two Miami free-throws.
Also, Game 1 easily played under a total of 219.
With Thursday’s win/cover, Denver is now 13-3 SU, 10-6 ATS this postseason.
With Thursday’s loss the Heat are now 13-8 SU, 14-7 ATS this postseason.
Heat-Nuggets Recent History
The Nuggets now own an eight-game winning streak against Miami, stretching back to 2021, going 8-0 ATS along the way. Denver swept two games from the Heat this regular season by scores of 124-119 and 112-108, covering at -4 at home and -1 at Miami.
However, both games this season were close; the Nuggets actually trailed that first meeting by eight points midway through the fourth quarter but rallied for the win and the money. Six weeks later, Denver took the lead for good in the third quarter and held on from there.
Those games both played over totals of 224 and 218.
NBA Finals Betting Trends
Denver played 34-7 SU, 26-15 ATS at home during the regular season, and it’s now 9-0 SU, 6-3 ATS at Ball Arena this postseason.
Miami played 17-24 SU, 15-25 ATS on the road during the regular season, but it’s now 6-5 SU, 7-4 ATS away from home this postseason.
Totals Report
The totals split 41-41 in Heat games during the regular season, while the Overs are 11-10 in Miami games this postseason.
The Unders played 44-37 in Nuggets games this season, but the overs are 8-7 in Denver games this postseason.
